Mary Berry has won over a new generation of budding chefs in recent years with her tasty recipes and starring role on The Great British Bake Off. However the 81-year-old left fans reeling after sharing her twist on the traditional Spaghetti Bolognese recipe during an episode of her BBC show Mary Berry Everyday on Monday.
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Many had mixed feelings about Mary's addition of two unusual ingredients to her Bolognese sauce: white wine and double cream. While making the sauce, Mary told viewers to add wine, "white or red, whatever you've got to hand - although I really prefer to add white. There's never any left in our household. I might even have to open a bottle especially." She also stopped partway to add cream, saying: "My secret is to make it even richer by adding double cream... it just enriches it."
Mary Berry shocked fans with her bolognese recipe on Mary Berry Everyday
The twist on the traditional recipe confused many viewers, who took to Twitter to share their opinions on Mary's cooking. "I love Mary Berry, but white wine in a Bolognese sauce? No. It has to be red, " one tweeted, while another wrote: "That's breaking every Italian kitchen rule."
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Another went as far as suggesting that Mary had "ruined" the dish by adding cream. However some viewers supported Mary's choice to add the unusual ingredients to her meal, with one sharing a similar Ragu Bolognese recipe from an Italian cookbook. "White wine and cream in a well-used recipe from book of Italian cooking. Very good it is, too!"
The chef added double cream and white wine to her bolognese sauce
The recipe was featured in the second episode of Mary's BBC2 show, with the theme of "Hearty and Wholesome". The new series follows Mary's exit from the Great British Bake Off, which is moving to Channel 4. Announcing her decision to quit the hit show in September, Mary said in a statement: "It has been a privilege and honour to be part of seven years of magic in a tent… My decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them, as they have nurtured me, and the show, that was a unique and brilliant format from day one. I am just sad for the audience who may not be ready for change, I hope they understand my decision."